Mobile toy

ABSTRACT

A mobile toy of the type having suction cups connected medially to tandem axles pivoted in a frame. The axles are paired together for rotation. Feet members are mounted on opposite ends of each of the axles to hold one axle against rotation while the frame pivots about the axle and the other axle pivots relative to the frame and first axle. Fingerlike prying members project forwardly and rearwardly from above and below the frame for prying the suction cups loose from the supporting surface as the mobile toy advances in an end over end fashion. The toy is particularly suited for end over end movement downwardly of a generally upright supporting surface with the movement of the toy being responsive to the force of gravity.

United States Patent [151 3,638,354 Morrison Feb. 1, 1 972 [54] MOBILE TOY Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold [72] Inventor. Howard J. Morrison, Highland Park, Ill. A'wmey Hfgren Wagner Allen, stenman and Mccord [73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates 22] Filed: Aug. 8, I969 [57] ABSTRACT A L N 4 57 A mobile toy of the type having suction cups connected medi- PP 8 s ally to tandem axles pivoted in a frame. The axles are paired together for rotation. Feet members are mounted on opposite [1.8- CI. R ends of each of the axles to one axle against rotation l l 9- "A63h while the frame pivots about the axle and the other axle pivots [58] Fleld of Search ..46/ l 32, 1 relative to the frame and first ax|e Fingerlike prying members project forwardly and rearwardly from above and below the [56] References cued frame for prying the suction cups loose from the supporting UNITED STATES PATENTS surface the mobile toy advances in an end over end fashion. The toy IS particularly sulted for end over end movement 2,779,127 1/1957 Holman ..46/] R d dl fa generally upright supporting surface with the 2,013,568 9/ 1935 Mallard .....46/ 132 X movement of the toy being responsive to the force of gravity. 2,618,889 11/1952 Wigal ..46/132 X 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures MOBILE TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to toys and more particularly to a mobile toy.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Mobile toys which traverse a supporting surface have long been known to captivate the imagination of children. Typically, such toys are powered by means of a windup motor or a battery powered motor or the like. The shortcomings of such powered mobile toys have been well known. In the case of the windup motor, frequently the toy is wound too tightly causing the spring to break or separate from its housing making it permanently incapable of functioning. In the case of battery operated toys, batteries quickly wear out and frequently have to be replaced. Moreover, toys utilizing a motor means for imparting movement thereto are typically more expensive than those toys which are not supplied with even a source of power in the form ofa windup motor.

Further, it has been typical for such mobile toys to be of the kind that traverse a generally horizontal or inclined surface and there have been very few toys provided which are capable of traversing nearly vertical surfaces such as upright walls or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved mobile toy capable of traversing upright surfaces such as walls or the like, utilizing the force of gravity to provide a continuing impetus of movement of the toy, thereby dispensing with the need for motor means to advance the same.

The best mode currently contemplated by me for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a frame having a pair of tandemarranged axles rotatably mounted in the frame. Suction cups are secured to the axles and feet are fixed at opposite ends of each of the axles for rotation therewith. The feet include portions which act as a pivot surface to prevent the rotation of one axle while the frame pivots about that axle and the other axle rotates relative to the frame. The forward and rear axles are coupled together for movement by means of a belt and pulley arrangement. Release fingers extend outwardly from above and below the medial portion of the frame. When the mobile toy is placed on a wall with the suction cups adhering thereto, it will traverse down the wall under the influence of gravity, in an end over end fashion, with the release fingers prying the uppermost suction cup loose from the wall and the toy pivoting about the lower axle, with the other axle being rotated by the belt so as to position the formerly uppermost suction cup below the axle and cup about which the frame rotates, with the cups properly oriented for connection to the wall surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mobile toy of this invention, free of decorative adornment;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view partially broken away showing the front axle in section;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along the lines 33 of FIG. 2 showing the mobile toy of this invention partially in elevation and partially in section;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the mobile toy of this invention;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are side elevational schematic views showing downward movement of the mobile toy of this invention and the relative parallel action of the axles as the mobile toy advances downwardly of a wall like upright supporting surface; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mobile toy of this invention with decorative adornment connected thereon.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The toy of this invention includes a frame 12 shown as being generally H-shaped in configuration. The frame includes generally parallel, longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, side webs 12a and 12b; and a generally medially positioned transverse central web which joins the side webs 12a and 12b together.

Axles 14 and 16 are tandem arranged at the opposite ends of the frame. The axles are shown here as being generally block like and rectangular in cross section, but it is to be understood that the specific configuration is not essential. The axles do have rounded portions 14a and 14b on axle 14, and 16a and 16b on axle 16, for rotatably mounting the axles with respect to the frame 12. The frame has aligned openings 24 and 26 at one end and 28 and 30 at the other end in which the rounded portions 14a,, 14b and 16a, 16b are rotatably received. The rounded portions are reduced relative to adjacent portions of the axles so that the reduction in the area of openings 24, 26 and 28, 30 serve to hold axles l4 and 16 against lateral displacement with respect to frame 12 by reason of the abutment of the adjacent portions of the axle with the webs 12a and 12b.

Exteriorly of the frame 12, the axles have hub portions 32, 34 on axle 14 and hub portions 36, 38 on axle 16. The hubs terminate in reduced ends, such as the reduced end 34a of hub 34, reduced end 36a of hub 36 and reduced end 380 of hub 38. The reduced end of hub 32 is not shown but it is of the same general configuration and extent as the reduced end 36a of hub 36. Pulley wheels 40 and 42 are fixed on reduced ends of the hubs 32 and 36 and are connected for rotation with each ofthe axles 14 and 16. An endless belt 44 couples or connects the pulley wheels and therefore the axles l4 and 16 together.

Feet 46 and 48 are connected to the reduced ends of the hubs 32 and 34 of axle 14 and feet 50 and 52 are connected to the reduced ends of hubs 36 and 38 of axle 16 with all of the feet being connected for movement with the axles. In the illustrated embodiment, this connection is accomplished by way of openings, such as the openings 48a, 50a and 52a, formed in the feet so that the feet can be impaled on the generally rectangular reduced ends of the hubs of the axles.

Each of the feet are generally round with tangential projections, such as projections 46b, 48b, 50b and 52b on the feet 46, 48, 50 and 52, respectively. The feet terminate in planar ends 460, 48c, 50c and 520, respectively, which are intended to be generally parallel to and in abutment with, a supporting surface S (FIG. 3) when the toy is placed thereon. The several planar ends 460 and 48c and 50c and 52a provide a base about which the remainder of the toy can pivot in an end over end fashion as the toy advances along the supporting surface, in that they prevent the related axle to which the respective feet are connected from rotating so that the frame of the toy rotates relative to the axle.

Releasable securing means in the form of suction cups 54 and 56 are connected to the underside of each axle 14 and 16 generally medially thereof by suitable fastening means 58 and 60. Means are further provided for releasing the suction cups or breaking of securement of the suction cups from a supporting surface responsive to the advancement of the frame. Included in this means are projecting portions 62 and 64 which extend upwardly above, and downwardly below, central web 12c of frame 12. Each of the projections 62 and 64 has an outwardly inclined recessed surface 62a and, 64a in which there is received a leaflike finger element 66 and 68. The finger elements 66 and 68 terminate in free ends 66a and 68a and are connected to the frame by suitable fastening means 70 and 72. Each finger element extends outwardly away from the frame 12 and, depending upon the orientation of the frame, the leaf element will also extend either upwardly above or downwardly below from the frame as well.

As best seen in FIG. 3, it is intended that the leaf elements will be substantially thin and elongate and the free ends 66a and 68a will terminate a distance away from the central portion of the frame sufficient to permit the leaf to pry under the periphery of the suction cups 54 and 56 as the mobile toy advances in its end over end fashion. This advancement is best seen schematically in FIGS. 5 through 7.

In FIG. 5, suction cup 54 is secured to supporting surface S and gravity urges the remainder of frame 12 downwardly with the ends such as 46c and 48c (not shown) of the feet and securement of suction cup 54 causing the frame 12 to pivot about axle 14. The coupling together of the axles 14 and 16 by way of the belt 44 and pulleys 40, 42 causes parallel movement between the axles so that the cup 56 is oriented generally parallel to the cup 54, as is the axle l6 and the feet 50, 52 connected thereto.

FIG. 6 shows further movement of the toy along the supporting surface. Here, the frame 12 is now moving toward the supporting surface with the coupled parallel movement of the two axles still causing the cup 56 to be oriented in a parallel relationship with supporting surface S and the cup 54.

As seen in FIG. 7, as cup 56 becomes closely adjacent to surface S, the free end 68a of member 68 is adjacent the exterior of cup 54 so that further movement of frame 12 towards supporting surface S will cause the free end 68a to pry under cup 54 and break the connection of the cup with the wall as shown in FIG. 3. Gravity will then urge the frame in an end over end pivotal relationship with respect to axle 16 and cup 56 as previously illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7 with respect to the axle l4 and the cup 54. This movement will continue as the toy 10 travels in an end over end relationship downwardly of the supporting surface S.

It is to be understood that one modification of this structure could include a means by which the central portion 120 would be driven in which case the members 66 and 68 could serve to release suction cups 54 and 56 and thrust the frame 12 in an end over end condition even, if the toy were placed on a horizontal surface.

As seen in FIG. 8, the completed toy may be provided with decorative matter in the form of simulated toes or claws 74 and simulated heads 76.

It can be seen that the mobile toy of this invention can provide hours of fascination for users in that it is capable of traversing an upright surface which is most unusual for toys of any type. Moreover, the movement of the toy is responsive to the force of gravity and thus no spring-actuated or batteryoperated motor means in necessary thereby making the toy more economical to produce and sell and more reliable in its operation.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A tumbling type mobile toy comprising: means defining a frame; plural axle means rotatably mounted in said frame; securement means connected to each axle for releasable securement to a supporting surface; finger means on said frame intermediate said axles and facing in opposition toward each axle for breaking the releasable securement of the securement means; connecting means interconnecting the axles for conjoint rotative movement together and for simultaneously orienting in the same direction, said securement means connected to each axle, and surface-engaging stabilizer means connected to each axle, said stabilizer means being spaced from said securement means and having a surface engaging portion positioned to abut a supporting surface when the securement means is in enga ement with the supporting surface to provide a base about w rch the toy may tumble in an end-over-end fashion.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein said axles have opposite ends and wherein plural stabilizer means are associated with each axle, said plural stabilizer means being spaced from each other and near the opposite ends of each axle.

3. The toy of claim 1 wherein said stabilizer means include generally tangential projections which terminate in planar ends that comprise said surface engaging portions.

4. The toy of claim 3 wherein said axles have opposite ends and wherein plural stabilizer means are associated with each axle, said plural stabilizer means being spaced from each other and near the opposite ends of each axle.

5. The toy of claim 1 wherein the securement means comprises suction cups on each axle and wherein each finger means diverges outwardly in opposite directions from an .opposite side of the frame intermediate the axles. 

1. A tumbling type mobile toy comprising: means defining a frame; plural axle means rotatably mounted in said frame; securement means connected to each axle for releasable securement to a supporting surface; finger means on said frame intermediate said axles and facing in opposition toward each axle for breaking the releasable securement of the securement means; connecting means interconnecting the axles for conjoint rotative movement together and for simultaneously orienting in the same direction, said securement means connected to each axle, and surfaceengaging stabilizer means connected to each axle, said stabilizer means being spaced from said securement means and having a surface engaging portion positioned to abut a supporting surface when the securement means is in engagement with the supporting surface to provide a base about which the toy may tumble in an end-over-end fashion.
 2. The toy of claim 1 wherein said axles have opposite ends and wherein plural stabilizer means are associated with each axle, said plural stabilizer means being spaced from each other and near the opposite ends of each axle.
 3. The toy of claim 1 wherein said stabilizer means include generally tangential projections which terminate in planar ends that comprise said surface engaging portions.
 4. The toy of claim 3 wherein said axles have opposite ends and wherein plural stabilizer means are associated with each axle, said plural stabilizer means being spaced from each other and near the opposite ends of each axle.
 5. The toy of claim 1 wherein the securement means comprises suction cups on each axle and wherein each finger means diverges outwardly in opposite directions from an opposite side of the frame intermediate the axles. 